Exhausted in the Vatican: The Final Battles of Pope Benedict XVI

[Littlejoe]

The mood at the Vatican is apocalyptic. Pope Benedict XVI seems tired, and both unable and unwilling to seize the reins amid fierce infighting and scandal. While Vatican insiders jockey for power and speculate on his successor, Joseph Ratzinger has withdrawn to focus on his still-ambiguous legacy.

Finally, there is clarity. The Holy See has cleared things up and made the document accessible to all: a handout on checking whether apparitions of the Virgin Mary are authentic.


Everything will be much easier from now on. The Roman Catholic Church has taken a step forward.

This "breaking news" from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) reveals the kinds of issues the Vatican is concerned with -- and the kind of world in which some there live. It's a world in which the official Church investigation of Virgin Mary sightings is carefully regulated while cardinals in the Roman Curia, the Vatican's administrative and judicial apparatus, wield power with absolutely no checks and the pope's private correspondence turns up in the desk drawers of a butler.

It's a completely different apparition of the Virgin Mary that has pulled the Vatican and the Catholic Church into a new crisis, whose end and impact can only be surmised: the appearance of a source in the heart of the Church, a conspiracy against the pope and a leak code-named "Maria."

A House in Disarray

Fear is running rampant in the Curia, where the mood has rarely been this miserable. It's as if someone had poked a stick into a beehive. Men wearing purple robes are rushing around, hectically monitoring correspondence. No one trusts anyone anymore, and some even hesitate to communicate by phone.

It all began in the accursed seventh year of the papacy of Benedict XVI, with striking parallels to the latter part of Pope John Paul II's papacy. The same complaints about poor leadership and internal divisions are being aired outside the Vatican's walls, while the pope himself seems exhausted and no longer able to exert his power.

Joseph Ratzinger turned 85 in April. This makes him the oldest pope in 109 years, and one of the few popes who have exercised what Benedict has called this "enormous" office at such an advanced age.

A Ship with No Captain

These days, it isn't difficult to find clerics at the Vatican who are willing to talk, provided their identities remain anonymous.

The monsignor who finds his way to a restaurant near Piazza Santa Maria in Rome's Trastevere neighborhood one evening worked closely with Ratzinger in the CDF for years. But even before the waiter arrives with water and wine, the monsignor delivers his verdict on Ratzinger's papacy: "The pope doesn't fully exercise his office!" In his view, instead of having things under control, they control him.

Perhaps Benedict XVI simply knows the Vatican too well to seriously attempt to reform it. "As pope, this veteran curial insider has turned out to have virtually zero interest in actually running the Roman Curia," writes John L. Allen, a biographer of the pope.

Pope Benedict Focuses on Legacy While Ignoring Vatican Power Struggle - SPIEGEL ONLINE

[SlavicBaptist]

There is a prophecy of 112 Popes, guess which Pope Benedict XVI is... 111th...

[chrisb01]

There is a prophecy of 112 Popes, guess which Pope Benedict XVI is... 111th...

Where? I'd like to see it.

That would really be a conversational piece. This pope is really trying to dispel a lot of historical Catholic myths, that have been held as Biblical truths for centuries. Not an easy thing to do.

[mattfivefour]

Where? I'd like to see it.

That would really be a conversational piece. This pope is really trying to dispel a lot of historical Catholic myths, that have been held as Biblical truths for centuries. Not an easy thing to do.

It's the alleged prophecy of St. Malachy, who was a 12^th century Irish archbishop and who was "sainted" for supposed miracles performed by him. However the first anybody ever heard of this prophecy was about 400 years later when a Benedictine monk published it. Even the Catholic Encyclopedia suggests it may have been a forgery by that Benedictine.

[doctortelco]

I am half way through the book Petrus Romanus. I am finding it a rather fascinating book however the author speaks though out the whole book of the sin, deceptions and the pagan basis of the Catholic Church. That being the case how does one start to believe in a prophecy from someone (St. Malachy) who was a product of that church?
Scott Smith

[Littlejoe]

What i find truly intriguing ,besides being 112 popes.In the detailed St.Malachy Prophecy is in which the state of the Vatican woud be in when he becomes the 112th pope..The Vatican would be in turmoil, In extreme persecution the seat of the Holy Roman Church will the become occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations. When they are over, the City of 7 Hills will be destroyed and the terrible or fearsome judge will judge his people.So although we don't believe in any prophecies outside of what God gives,in the coming years we should at least watch ,as of now the conditions are right the Roman church is now in dissaray ,and under turmoil.and the othe prophecies are coming to pass,we should be alert..."Don't forget God has revealed dreams to heathen ,non believers before,Lets not forget he used King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel to give the visions of the world empires..

[Meg]

What i find truly intriguing ,besides being 112 popes.In the detailed St.Malachy Prophecy is in which the state of the Vatican woud be in when he becomes the 112th pope..The Vatican would be in turmoil, In extreme persecution the seat of the Holy Roman Church will the become occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations. When they are over, the City of 7 Hills will be destroyed and the terrible or fearsome judge will judge his people.So although we don't believe in any prophecies outside of what God gives,in the coming years we should at least watch ,as of now the conditions are right the Roman church is now in dissaray ,and under turmoil.and the othe prophecies are coming to pass,we should be alert..."Don't forget God has revealed dreams to heathen ,non believers before,Lets not forget he used King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel to give the visions of the world empires..

Seems to me the Vatican is usually in turmoil, so how's anybody supposed to recognize that as a sign?

[Littlejoe]

Seems to me the Vatican is usually in turmoil, so how's anybody supposed to recognize that as a sign?

True..But over these last 10 years,even more so with this happening within the Vatican,we have never seen anything like this...I was raised in this false christian church,im a 6th generation catholic family i know whats taught.I thank God he showed me from the propheceis to get out ouf that church 14 years ago.Believe me whats going on now inside the Roman church has never been seen,at least in public of the corruption for the world to see.God is removing their veil for the world to see what the Vatican is....

[chrisb01]

I am half way through the book Petrus Romanus.

Which "Petrus Romanus"?

I found one by Thomas R. Horn and one by David Allen. I would like to look into this.

[JC1949]

It's the alleged prophecy of St. Malachy, who was a 12^th century Irish archbishop and who was "sainted" for supposed miracles performed by him. However the first anybody ever heard of this prophecy was about 400 years later when a Benedictine monk published it. Even the Catholic Encyclopedia suggests it may have been a forgery by that Benedictine.

..... anything that has to do with RCC smells of forgery and trickery.....
I really would like to have some RCC "believer" come and tell us where and when Jesus have ever established or instituted this ABOMINATION that is POPERY......

[JC1949]

True..But over these last 10 years,even more so with this happening within the Vatican,we have never seen anything like this...I was raised in this false christian church,im a 6th generation catholic family i know whats taught.I thank God he showed me from the propheceis to get out ouf that church 14 years ago.Believe me whats going on now inside the Roman church has never been seen,at least in public of the corruption for the world to see.God is removing their veil for the world to see what the Vatican is....

yeah....guess what? the people looooooveee the Pope and the other Baal priests with him...THE BALD and THE DOUBTFUL....( silly joke ) and the populace of the RCC who are totally blinded by satan via the RCC demoniac teachings DO NOT DARE to speak evil of the "little Christ" sitting on his throne in Rome.....and I read the Italian News continually and my my....the country is suffering for nazi rat-zinger ...oh camon,enough is enough.....actually never enough there.....please anybody,read the book the two babylons by Hislop

The Two Babylons--Alexander Hislop

[doctortelco]

Which "Petrus Romanus"?

I found one by Thomas R. Horn and one by David Allen.

I am reading the Thomas Horn book.

[chrisb01]

I am reading the Thomas Horn book.

Thanks, I'll get a hold of the kindle edition.

[Meg]

True..But over these last 10 years,even more so with this happening within the Vatican,we have never seen anything like this...I was raised in this false christian church,im a 6th generation catholic family i know whats taught.I thank God he showed me from the propheceis to get out ouf that church 14 years ago.Believe me whats going on now inside the Roman church has never been seen,at least in public of the corruption for the world to see.God is removing their veil for the world to see what the Vatican is....

I was thinking of the Borgias etc when I made that remark, but it fits that the Vatican is being shaken along with everyone else. It takes a good size heaping of denial to go along with the Catholic weirdness... There was a time around 2007 when I would have liked to have sought refuge as a Nun, but I couldn't bring myself to go along with the virgin mary business or that sickening collecting of relics!